% Bare Soil

What proportion of the sampled field is bare ground (that which is exposed soil, i.e. not covered by litter or leaves).

Areas uncovered by vegetation or mulch are vulnerable to soil degradation.

Estimate the percentage uncovered within the quadrat, and record this in the app to be monitored over time.

What to record


  • Percentage of bare soil that you can see to the nearest 10%. Note: ground covered by mulch is not bare soil.
  • Photos

Equipment


  • Quadrat (Learn how to make one here)

How to do the test

1. Decide whether you want to test the field more generally (under the W walk category), or repeatedly test a specific sample site over time (using the GPS feature to find the same location). Read more info here on how to do a W walk.

2. Place the quadrat on the soil, and standing above it, visually estimate what percentage of the area you can see is bare soil.

3. Record that percentage in the Soilmentor, either under a specific sample site (e.g. SO1), or under ‘W walk’.

4. If you haven’t already, take a photo using the app!

5. Repeat these steps for however many sample sites you choose to look at in each field.

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